There are some very smart people posting in this thread and alot of good info being shared. It is however painfully aparent in the last couple of pages that several of you have no idea of how to properly scale a car. The solid rod idea is a waste of time and completley unneeded if you scale it right. Sorry if I hurt your feelings but it had to be said.
First off, dont bother- I repeat, DO NOT BOTHER looking at individual corner weights untill last. Period. If your balancing a car you look at pairs. Always.
when adjusting the spring collars there are a few rules.
Rule 1 - You can't shift total weight between axles, LF + RF = Constant
Rule 2 - You can't shift total weight between sides, LF + LR = Constant
Rule 3 - You CAN shift total weight between diagonal measures, LF + RR /= Constant
Rule 4 - Adjusting any one wheel weight will change all wheel weights
Quoted from here-
http://www.elephantracing.com/techto...nerbalance.htm
Scale the car as its going to be raced. Simple enough. Yes friction from the shocks will afffect corner weights but will not affect left or rear weight.
To do it right is simple. First you take all 4 of your corner weights and total them. Write that down. then take your left front and left rear weights and total them. Then take that total and divide it by the total vehicle weight. That is your left side percentage. Ideal for anything other than oval is 50%. Then take your left rear and right rear and total them. Divide that total by your total weight and you have the rear percentage. That will vary depending on the car, track conditions and driver preference. Worry about seperate wheel weights later
For example-
1500 gram buggy.
Lf 250g RF 275G
LR 500G RR 475G
Left side total 250+500 750G. 750 divided into 1500 total, 0.5 which is 50%
Left rear + right rear 975G. Divide that into the 1500 total is o.65 which is 65%.
Those are the first two things you look at before you worry about individual corner weights.
The only way to change those percents is to move weight. lead, battery esc and so on.
Lets say you crank on the collars and come up with this
LF 212 RF 313
LR 538 RR 427
Ovbiously corner weights are way off. If you check the percents however-
Left 212+538= 750. 750/1500=50%
Rear 538+427=975. 975/1500=65%
They are still the same. Where you place or move weight will affect rear and lefr/right at the same time. You have to look at the whole picture when making adjustments and it will go easier.
After you get the desired rear weight and your left/right set where you want then its time to look at corner weights. Keep in mind that if your not 50/50 left/right you will not get both sides even. by that I mean you might get the fronts even but the rears will be heavier on one side. Only way to get the fronts and rears matched side to side is to be 50/50. personally I would try to get the rear tires as even as possible. If one rear tire is heavier it will turn easier one way than the other. it will be more consistent if they are even.
Also check your shocks before you start. make sure they are the same length and have the same amount of rebound. If you know they are even before you start then theres no need to take it apart after you get it set and do it again.
Nick